Last night I joined the studio audience for a taping of "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Ever watched it? Me either, but it was still a fascinating experience.

The entire set-up is calibrated to keep audience members alert, content, and laughing hysterically into the strategically placed microphones. A funny guy named Bob kept us apprised of what was happening, why the director wanted another take, and how many scenes remained in the shoot. A DJ played overly loud disco and hip hop to "keep the energy up" during costume changes. Halfway through the evening Warner Brothers assistants delivered dozens of cheese pizzas and passed bottled water and snacks down each row. Dinner (of sorts), entertainment, a chance to see Blair Underwood in person (sigh.....he's so dreamy), and even free parking--overall, a fun evening.

The most interesting moments came after the first takes of scenes that, despite all efforts toward audience peppiness, didn't get enough laughs. Quickly the team of writers would huddle in a circle near the producers and rewrite various lines. ("The chocolate fountain tastes like fingers" was judged funnier than "The chocolate fountain is full of old fruit." Watch November 6 and that will make sense.)

Within just minutes the team brainstormed new lines, coached the actors, and re-shot the scene. And most of the time, their instincts paid off.

How I wish life could be like that. Wouldn't it be nice to have unlimited "do-overs"? Mess up a conversation and just start over from the top. Wreck a relationship and call in the writers to fix it by season-end. Boring small group, annoying neighbor, tedious job--just add a few one-liners and some zippy situations and boom!--instant fun.

Of course, we have the Master of do-overs in our corner. He doesn't allow us to change the past, but he's an expert at taking our messes and turning them into good by life-end, and I'll take that any day over a group of sitcom writers churning out quick laughs. Although I wouldn't mind if God brought Mr. Underwood into my storyline.